Free Rough Road Home (The Circle D series) by Audra Harders

realized she’d been holding. The way Nick looked at her wore her out. His very gaze drew her in and offered protection, unleashing a yearning that set her heart to beating a mile a minute. She ground her teeth in a familiar manner she hadn’t done in years. Protection, comfort, safety, all the elements the cowboy mystique offered. She didn’t buy any of it. His ‘come see the world from the back of my Brahma’ versus her ‘five figure commission checks each month’ told the story in a nutshell. She’d do well to remember that. The good Lord had gifted her with the talent to manage a career that provided her all the security, excitement, and contentment she needed.
    Reaching for her headset, she tapped along her collar a moment before she remembered she’d taken it off to gather wood. As soon as she got back to the apartment, she’d block out Nick with her best message on “look to the Lord for all your needs.” She needed Divine guidance before she started fantasizing about cowboys and happy ever after, neither of which belonged in the same sentence.
    Clutching the phone in a white knuckle grip, she punched in the familiar numbers and listened for the ring. She loved Uncle Mitch, but this cowboy friend of his was really getting under her skin. On the fifth ring, she heard the service click on asking her to leave the pertinent facts and he’d return the call when he could.
    “It’s me, Rachel. We had to stop for the night, but we’ll be back on the road again early in the morning. If you need me, call.” She started to snap off the connection and stopped. “Oh, Uncle Mitch? Saddling me with this rogue cowboy of yours wasn’t nice of you. See you soon.” Confident her uncle understood the measure of her irritation, she tapped off the connection.
    Behind her, the door squeaked open. Nick stepped through the doorway, his hat tipped low and propped his shoulder against the jamb. He looked lean and dangerous, and one hundred percent cowboy.
    “Your two minutes are up,” he said in a low voice that could melt butter.
    Rachel glanced up and squinted. The porch light created a halo around Nick’s solid build, an image so contrary to the truth, she almost laughed. “Lucky for you I didn’t need three.”
    A slow smile spread across his lips causing her heart to flip-flop.
    “Yeah.” He took a step forward. “Hoisting you across my shoulder and hauling you inside would have made my day.”
    Rachel stared at the hand he extended to help her up. No way. Aid on behalf of injuries was one thing; no more intentional body contact. Scrambling to her feet, she brushed past him and pushed open the door. Sandwiches and sleep were all she needed and the sooner she obtained both, the better.
    The great room of the lodge sported half a dozen hunters winding down for the evening. All heads turned and conversations stopped as she stepped into the room. A pheasant in a thicket had nothing on the honing instincts of these guys.
    “Hiya, honey.” The man lounging in a worn vinyl chair shouted out more loudly than necessary. “Ol’ Nick here said he was awaitin’ for a friend. He sure didn’t mention his friend looked like you.”
    A wave of laughter filled the room. Rachel felt her cheeks warm as she glanced back at Nick. To the room full of sportsman, he gave the appearance of a laid back cowboy at the end of a hard day. But Rachel knew better. His clenched jaw and arms crossed over his chest meant he stood ready to cowboy up at any indication of trouble. Oh, Lord, we don’t need trouble now.
    She pasted on her wooden grin and singled out the unshaven leader of the group with her best wink. “You know, fellas, my friend Nick here has just had the ride of his life this past weekend over in Rapid City. He and the bull toughed it out and Nick won. Made him a shoe-in for the Finals in December. I don’t suppose any of you want to hear all about his ride, do you?”
    Another man pulled open a cooler and pointed to the